Panaji, Jul 25: Senior Congress leader Pratapsinh Rane today accused a Union minister of insulting a delegation of Goa MLAs which had gone to meet him for resumption of mining.

"When our delegation of legislators had gone to Delhi, one of the Union ministers had asked them whether they have come there to do 'dalali' of mine owners. This word should not have been uttered," the former chief minister said in the Legislative Assembly during Question Hour.

However, BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral, who was one of the members of the delegation, contested Rane's claims.

Intervening in the discussion, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikarsaid, "We don't know what happened with any individual delegation. There is no point in discussing the issue. You cannot discuss it. We need to provide solution for the issue," he said.

Mining industry in Goa has come to standstill since March 16 this year after the Supreme Court quashed renewal of 88 mining leases.

The people dependent on the mining industry have been holding peaceful protests across the state demanding resumption of the activity.(PTI)